Mechanical car washer



March 6, 1951 R. H. CHENAULT MECHANICAL CAR WASHER Filed ,bec. 5, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l [1?2'0/2 aria/2 67262:;

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 RNH R. H. CHENAULT MECHANICAL CAR WASHER March 6, 1951 Filed Dec.

k Invent/n IR iaharJHC' $6710 a 7 Z Attorneys March 6, 1951 R CHENAUL-r 2,544,066

MECHANICAL CAR WASHER Filed Dec. 5, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 6, 19251 UNITED STATES cri ics 5 Claims. l

The present invention relates to mechanical car washers and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanical car washer particularly adapted to the cleaning of automobiles which is wholly mechanical in its action.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a device of this kind of a novel mop construction.

A further object of the invention is the provi-- sion of novel means and mechanism whereby an automobile or the like may be quickly washed and mopped by mechanical means.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the draw-' ings, in which:

Figure l is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 2--2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 3- of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 55 of Figure 2, I

Figure 6 is an elevational View showing certain details of construction, and

Figure '7 is a fragmentary elevational view. showing an element of the invention.

Generally, there is provided a car Washing and mopping apparatus comprising a suitable compartment into which a vehicle may be driven and provided with an entrance and an exit opening.

The compartment is provided with an overhead railway on which is mounted by means of wheels a framework carrying an elongated curtain-like mop on three sides thereof. The framework also carries a plurality of nozzles adjacent the mops.

and adapted toplay upon the outer sides thereof. A flexible hose interconnects the nozzles and a suitable source of water and an electric motor or the like is provided for moving the framework forwardly and rearwardly upon the trackway.

Referring more particularly to the drawings there is shown therein a compartment having a floor l preferably formed of concrete or the like, side walls I l and I2 and an entrance l3 and an exit Id. The compartment is of generally elongated rectangular shape and is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending rails l and I6 adjacent the top thereof.

A framework ll is provided with two wheels ii! at either side thereof which wheels are adapted to run in the trackways l 5 and It and to support the framework H. The framework I1 is substantially square in shape and has a pair of longitudinally extendin support members It each mounted in spaced relation to the sides of the frame.

A curtain-like mop 29 is suspended from each of the members as, the free ends thereof extending to points adjacent the floor it. The forward end of the frame has suspended therefrom a curtain-like mop 2|.

A plurality of outwardly extending brackets 22 affixed to the framework ll is adapted to hold a U-shaped supply pipe 23 in which is mounted a plurality of spray nozzles 2t which are directed at the mops 2E} and 2| and a flexible hose connection 25 interconnects the supply pipe 23 by means of a coupling 26 and a suitable water supply (not shown).

Adjacent either end of the compartment is mounted a transversely extending axle 21 and 23 carrying respectively sprockets 2G and 30 over which sprockets is trained a chain 3|, the free ends of which are attached to brackets 32 and 33 carried by the framework ll. The axle 23 is also provided with a sprocket 3 3 which is interconnected with a sprocket 35 of a motor 36 by means of an endless chain 37. The motor 38 is suitably supported upon a bracket .58 mounted at one end of the compartment.

In operation, it will be seen that an automobile 39 may be driven into the entrance I3 of the compartment and that water may then be supplied to the pipe 23 by means of a suitable valve (not shown) whereby water will begin to play through the nozzles 25 upon all of the mops 20 and 2!. The framework I! may then be reciprocated along the trackways l5 and it within the compartment thereby carrying the mops over the automobile 39 to thoroughly cleanse the same, it being understood that the continually renewed water supply passing down the curtain-like mop structures will carry away all dirt loosened by the mops. The action of the motor may be simply controlled either manually or by some suitable automatic reversing mechanism for the motor 36.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A mechanical car washer comprising an elongated horizontal compartment having an open end through which a vehicle to be washed can be driven, a trackway mounted on each of the inner side walls of the compartment adjacent the top and longitudinally thereof, a wheeled framework adapted to travel longitudinally in the compartment on said trackways, a plurality of ourtain-like mops carried by the framework and depending from each side and. at least one end thereof to adjacent the bottom of the compartment, a water supply pipe carried by the framework, and a series of nozzles carried by the pipe and directed at the outer sides of the mops.

2. A mechanical car washer comprising an elongated horizontal compartment having an open end through which a vehicle to be washed can be driven, a trackway mounted on each of the inner side walls of the compartment adjacent the top and longitudinally thereof, a wheeled framework adapted to travel longitudinally in said trackways, a plurality of curtain-like mops carried by the framework and depending from each side and at least one end thereof to adjacent the bottom of the compartment, a water supply pipe carried by the framework, a series of nozzles carried by the pipe and directed at the outer sides of the mops, and means for reciprocating the framework upon the trackway for dragging the mops over the entire body of the vehicle to be washed.

3. A mechanical car washer comprising an elongated horizontal compartment having an open end through which a vehicle to be washed can be driven, a trackway mounted on each of the inner side walls of the compartment adjacent the top and longitudinally thereof, a wheeled framework adapted to travel longitudinally in the compartment on said trackways, a plurality of curtain-like mops carried by the framework and depending from each side and at least one end thereof to adjacent the bottom of the compartment, a water supply pipe carried by the framework, a series of nozzles carried by the pipe and directed at the outer sides of the mops, and means for reciprocating the framework upon the trackways for dragging the mops over the entire body of the vehicle to be washed, said means including a motor and means interconnecting the motor and the framework.

4. A mechanical car washer comprising an elongated horizontal compartment having an open end through which a vehicle to be washed can be driven, a trackway mounted on each of the inner side walls of the compartment adjacent the top and longitudinally thereof, a wheeled framework adapted to travel longitudinally in the compartment on said trackways, a plurality of curtain-like mops carried by the framework and depending from each side and at least one end thereof to adjacent the bottom of the compartment, a water supply pipe carried by the framework, a series of nozzles carried by the pipe and directed at the outer sides of the mops, and means for reciprocating the framework upon the trackways, said means including an axle transversely mounted adjacent each of the upper ends of the compartment, a sprocket affixed to each of the axles, a chain trained over said sprockets and having its ends connected with the framework, a driven sprocket affixed to one of the axles, a suitably mounted electric motor having a drive sprocket and a chain interconnecting the drive and the driven sprockets.

5. A mechanical car washer comprising an elongated washing tunnel into which a vehicle is adapted to be driven to be washed, a mobile carrier mounted for movement longitudinally of the upper portion of the tunnel and above the level of the vehicle, a plurality of curtain-like mops supported by and depending from said carrier to adjacent the bottom of said tunnel and including a mop depending from each side of the carrier for engaging the sides of the vehicle and a mop depending from at least one end of the carrier for movement across the ends, hood and top of the vehicle when said carrier is moved longitudinally of the tunnel and relatively to the vehicle, and a liquid supply means carried by said carrier and including a plurality of spray heads arranged to discharge against the outer sides of said mops.

RICHARD H. CHENAULT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

